Big-leaved Aster (Aster macrophyllus)
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Deciduous Perennial Upright in the Asteraceae Family
 
Buy Big-leaved Aster
Size Notes Price Availability
Tray of 6 #1 gallons Field

Grower approved but probably not garden center ready. (9/13)

 $79.05 Likely available
1/24 - 4/4

A shade-loving Midwest woodland native with bold, heart-shaped 4-8 inch leaves and airy sprays of pale lavender-blue, yellow-centered flowers in late summer and fall.

Aster macrophyllus (Eurybia macrophylla), commonly called Big-leaved Aster, is a woodland perennial best known for its bold, heart-shaped basal leaves, often 4 to 8 inches across, that form a dense, weed-suppressing groundcover under trees. In late summer into fall, it sends up branching flower stalks topped with loose clusters of pale violet to lavender (occasionally white) daisy-like flowers with yellow centers. Unlike most asters, it is a true shade specialist, thriving in dappled light to deep shade where sun-loving prairie asters struggle.

Pros

  • One of the best true shade-tolerant native asters, thriving from dappled light to deep shade
  • Bold, heart-shaped foliage makes an attractive, weed-suppressing woodland groundcover
  • Spreads by rhizomes to form colonies with minimal care
  • Late-season flowers provide nectar for bees and butterflies after most shade plants have finished

Cons

  • Spreads by rhizomes and can be aggressive in a small woodland bed
  • Flowers are less showy than sun-loving asters
  • Needs consistent shade; struggles and scorches in full sun
Why Like

In its native woodlands across the northeastern and upper Midwestern US and eastern Canada, Big-leaved Aster forms dense colonial patches on the forest floor, its large leaves capturing what little dappled light reaches the understory. Its late-season blooms are an important nectar source for woodland bees and butterflies in the weeks before frost, and its rhizomatous spread helps stabilize soil on shaded slopes.
Highlights

Among the most shade-tolerant of all native asters, at home under a full tree canopy where most flowering perennials do not bloom. Its oversized basal leaves are a signature look in a woodland garden even before it flowers.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 12 - 24 inches tall. 12 - 24 inches wide.
Growth Rate Moderate
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Partial Shade
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Wet:

Tolerates a wide range of moisture from dry to consistently moist (medium-wet), making it adaptable to varied woodland conditions.
Zones 3a - 8b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Adaptable, Attracts Bees, Attracts Beneficial Insects, Attracts Butterflies, Deciduous, Dry, Erosion Control, Fall interest, Full Shade, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Groundcover, Illinois Native, Low Maintenance, Medium, Native to North America, Non-Allergenic, Partial Shade, Perennial, Popular For Fall, Shade Tolerant, Wet, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period Late summer into fall
Flower Color White to lavender to pale blue
Foliage Color Green
 

Plant Club Content
 

In The News

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well with other shade-loving woodland natives such as wild ginger (Asarum canadense), ferns, and foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia), whose textures contrast nicely with its bold leaves.
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 09/07 - 10/04
2024 : 07/02 - 09/08
2023 : 07/06 - 09/10

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!